Valve for controlling flow of gas to burners



Jan. 5, 1954 D. E. BLACKFORD 2,665,107

VALVE FOR CONTROLLING FLOW OF GAS TO BURNERS Filed April 18, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 34 o l7 5 6 l4 l2 4 l /1,] g

4e w; 1/5 3/ I 22 INVENTOR. Dona/0 E Blockfisrc/ ATTOQNESG.

95 D. E. BLACKFORD ,665,

VALVE FOR CONTROLLING FLOW OF GAS T0 BURNERS Filed April 18, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

AWE/V86.

Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT VALVE FOR CONTROLLING FLOW OF GAS TO BURNERS OFFEQE Application April 18, 1951, Serial No. 221,656

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a Valve for controlling the fiow of fuel gas such, for example, as to a burner for a gas range.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified construction for indicating the position of the valve ports. The invention may be embodied in what is generally termed a low-high valve, wherein the rotary valve member operates between fixed stops and there is an intermediate position indicated by an audible snap, or click. Another object of the invention is to provide a valve of this type of locking characteristics in that the valve is locked in its off position. In accordance with the invention a minimum number of parts are provided and the novel construction provides for using parts of fairly large size so that small intricate mechanism is avoided. A valve constructed in accordance with the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view of a valve constructed in accordance with the invention, shown partly in section, and illustrating the valve in its low or simmer position.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the valve showing a spring member.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the spring member.

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating the formation of the yieldable element of the spring member.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the position of some parts when the valve is locked in off position.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the position of some parts when the valve is in full on position.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to- Figs. 5 and 6 showing the position of some parts when the valve is in simmer position.

Fig. 8 is a view taken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 5 showing the lock construction.

Fig. 9 is a view taken substantially on line 9--9 of Fig. 1 showing the position of the valve ports in off position.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the position of the ports in full on position.

Fig. 11 is a View similar to Figs. 9 and 10 showmember 8 with a projecting stem portion 9. The stem portion is fiat on one side, as shown at It, and an operating stem l2 slidably fits over the stem 9 and is rotatably connected thereto by engaging the flat face It. The operating stem 12 has an enlarged portion Hi and a flange on its inner end, as shown at It, the purpose of which will presently appear. The valve member 8 has a passageway l'l therein which opens through its smaller end and thus communicates with the outlet passage 4, and it has a port iii, as shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11. The port it has, what is called, a tail port it, which is in the form of a milled slot which is of maximum depth where it communicates with the port it but gradually decreases in depth as the bottom thereof approaches the outside surface of the member 8.

There is a cap 22 attached to the body by screws 23 and which has a central opening through which the portion i l of the operating stem extends, and the flange It lies inside the opening and engages the face of the cap. This cap has a struck up element 25 which becomes a stop shoulder. Another stop shoulder 25 is provided by a portion of the body. The cap also has a struck up element 2?. This element has an inclined face 28 and an abrupt shoulder 29 (Fig. 8).

The stem portion 9 has another fiat face 33 so that it is D-shape in cross section as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, and mounted thereon is a washer 30. Thus the washer turns with the stem. 9 but it is just slightly loose thereon. The washer has a projection or finger 3i and a projection or finger 32. Conveniently these fingers are oppositely disposed. A coil spring 3 surrounds the stem 9. It holds the Washer 3 against the por tion i4 and flange [5 of the operating stem 9, and reacts against the valve member 8 to hold it on its seat.

A spring member generally indicated at 35 has a body portion 36 which is apertured as at 3? to fit over the portion Hi, and so that the body portion 36 lies against the outside face of the cap 22. The body portion has an arcuate slot 39 and a screw 40 passes through this slot and is threaded into the cap, as shown in Fig. 1. The spring member is fashioned to provide a night portion 42 which extends over the edge of the cap (Fig. 2) and a leg portion d3 which extends inwardly toward the axis of the valve member and partially into the body which is cut away as at 44 to provide clearance therefor. The leg portion 43 carries a spring element 45 which projects lateral-1y therefrom and is fashioned to provide a relatively abrupt shoulder 46 and an inclined portion 41, which are on opposite sides of the high point 48.

When the valve is in off position, the port I8 is disaligned from the inlet 3, as shown in Fig. 9, and in this position the projection '31 substantially abuts the limit stop 25. The projection 32 is engaged behind the shoulder 29. Thus, the

valve member 8 is locked in position and cannot be turned in either direction as .Fig. is viewed. At this point, it might be stated that the limit stop and the lock member 27 are both formed on the cap. In this manner the elementsZS and 21 are accurately located relative to each other and remain accurately located relative to each other even though there may be some Variation, due to tolerances or the like, of the cap relative to the valve body.

In order to operate the valve from its locked position, the operating stem, which is to be equipped with a suitable operating handle (not shown), is pushed inwardly. This urges the washer 3O inwardly and disengages the locking projection 32 from the shoulder 29. Then the valve member may be turned clockwise as Fig. 5 is viewed and the inward pressure relieved. If it is turned to the limit of its movement, which is-determined when the projection Si strikes the limit stop 26, the port i8 is substantially in full registry with the inlet 3, and gas fiows through the passage H and outlet passage 4 to the burner.

However, there is an intermediate low or simmer position. It will be noted that the yieldable element 45 lies in the path of the projection 3E. In this clockwise movement, the projection -3i engages the inclined face ll and depresses the spring element 45. When the projection rides over the crest t8 the spring element snaps back to position. In other Words, the projection 3! snaps over the crest 43 and ther is an audible indication. This snapping action is accomplished due to the fact that the washer is slightly rotatably loose on the stem 9, and when it rides over the crest 48, it snaps rotatably relative to the valve member 8. In moving over the yieldable element the washer itself may be yieldably displaced by compression of the coil spring 34. In this simmer or low position the tail port i9 is in registry or partial registry with the inlet 3. This precise position may be adjusted and regulated by loosening the screw 4i! and rotatably adjusting the spring member about the axis of the stem portion I4. When a proper position is attained the screw is tightened.

When the valve member is moved counterclockwise, from the ful1 on position, as shown in Figs. .6 and 10, the projection 3! strikes the relatively abrupt shoulder 46. This again, indicates by resistance, the simmer or low position. However, the valve 8 may be moved further counterclockwise to off position by the application or a slight additional torqu to cause the projection (H to ride over the shoulder 46 and flex the spring element 45 in so doing. As the valve continues counter-clockwise movement and approaches the ofi position, as shown in Fig. 5, the projection 32 engages and rides up the inclined face 28. This is permissible because the washer can shift to the left as Fig. 1 is viewed thus compressing spring 34. As above explained, the limit stop 25 and the element 2'! are accurately positioned, being both formed on the cap, and substantially at the time the projec- 4 tion 3| engages the limit stop 25 rojection 32 snaps behind the shoulder 29 and the valve is locked in off position.

I claim:

1. In a valve for controlling the flow of fuel gas to a burner, said valve having a body, a valve member rotatably seated in the body, the body and valve member having passages arranged to be brought into and out of registry by rotary movement of the valve member; a projection movable with the valve member, limit stops fixed relative to the body and engageable by the projection, a cap for the body, the valve member having an operating stem portion projecting through the-cap, a member having a body portion disposed against the outside of the cap and having an aperture through which the stem portion extends so that the member is journaled on the stem portion, the body portion having an elongated slot therein, a screw extending through the slot and threaded into the cap, whereby said member is adjustable within the limits of the elongated slot, said member having a bight portion extending over the edge of the cap, an arm extending inwardly on the inside of the cap, and -a yieldable portion carried by said arm and having a surface positioned between the valve body and the cap to be engaged by said projection to indicate a relative position-of th passages in the body and valve member, said portion yielding for movement of the projection past said surface upon turning of the valve member.

2. In a valve for controlling the flow of fuel gas to a burner, said valve having a body, a valve membe rotatably seated in the body, the body and valve member having passages arranged to be brought into and out of registry by rotary movement of the valve member; a projection movable with the valve member, a cap for the body, the valve member having an operating stem portion projecting through the cap, a member having a body portion disposed outside the cap and adjustably secured to the cap, said member having a bight portion extending over the edge of the cap and an arm extending inwardly on the inside of the cap and between the valve body and cap, and a yieldable portion carried by said arm in a position to be engaged by said projection in the turning of the valve member to indicate-a relative position of the passages in the body and valve member, said portion yielding for movement of the projection past the same upon turning of the valve member.

3. Ina valve for controlling the flow of fuel gas to a burner, said valve having a body, a valve member rotatably seated in the body, the body and valve member having passages arranged to be brought into and out of registry by rotary movement of the valve member; a projection movable with the valve member, a cap for the body, the valve member having an operating stem portion projecting through the cap, a member having a body portion disposed outside the cap and journaled on the operating stem portion and adjustably secured to the cap, said member having a bight .portion extending over the edge of the cap and an arm extending inwardly on the inside of the cap-and between the valve body and cap, an engaging portion carried by said arm in a position to be engaged by said projection to indicate a relative position of the passages in the body and valve member, and spring means acting upon the projection so that the same may yield for movement of the projection past said engaging element upon turning of the valve member.

4. In a valve for controlling the flow of fuel gas to a burner, said valve having a body, a valve member rotatably seated in the body, the body and valve member having passages arranged to be brought into and out of registry by rotary movement of the valve member; means having a projecting portion movable with the valve member, a cap for the body, the valve member having an operating stem portion projecting through the cap, a member having a body portion disposed outside the cap and adjustably secured to the cap and journaled on the stem portion, said member having a bight portion extending over the edge of the cap and an arm extending inwardly on the inside of the cap and between the valve body and cap, an engaging portion carried by said arm in a position to be engaged by said DONALD E. BLACKF'ORD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,217,963 Mueller Oct. 15, 1940 2,262,703 Stucken-bolt Nov. 11, 1941 2,299,666 Turner et a1. Oct. 20, 1942 2,334,346 Mueller Nov. 16, 1943 2,572,507 Mueller Oct. 23, 1951 

